Your say: How to stop domestic violence

Stuff.co.nz readers have their say on the Government's plan to stop domestic abuse by questioning women every time they go to hospital.

RE: Govt has radical plan on child abuse

That's just going to make it even less likely that abused women will present themselves at hospital, which further isolates them. It throws the responsibility and blame back on the recipients of abuse, not the perpetrators, and is a completely discriminatory approach. What about men? Are men going to be interrogated when they go to get healthcare?
Michael Iorns

My question would be why is it just women that are going to be questioned when they go to public hospitals? What if a father took his kid(s) to the public hospital, would he not be questioned?
Darrin

It all seems well and great that our Govt wants to look out for our children etc, but if I went into hospital with an in-gown toe nail and got asked these questions I`d find it to be quite invasive and possibly become defensive at someone prying into an unrelated matter. Surely unless someone show signs of abuse it would be a little rude to be asking such questions!
Trisha Stewart

I wouldn't call it radical, especially if some hospitals are doing this already. I guess my comment is: "Is that all?" because in itself this is pathetically not enough. What about dealing with the issues that contribute to family violence such as dysfunctional families, lack of parenting education, drug and alcohol abuse? Also, what sense does it make for Labour to institute the smacking bill which criminalises responsible parents (against the wishes of the majority of NZers) but then allows the justice system to let sadistic child abusers away on manslaughter charges?
Pam Grant

All new mothers from at risk areas and backgrounds should be given mother and baby courses before leaving hospital and given practical education on what to do and what not to do. The mother should not be allowed to take a new-born home until she has proved beyond doubt that she is capable and able to provide all the necessary tools for the baby to survive in a safe and warm home. This should be absolutely mandatory, forget rights, forget all the political correctness just get to the good basic principles of mothering and caring and do what is right and socially acceptable
Loretta White

As usual this politically correct government has gone overboard in its reaction to child abuse. Instead of treating the real cause of, it is clutching at straws (yet again) in a feeble attempt at putting another band aid on the problem.
Lorraine Lister

This policy is very anti male - otherwise why not interview them as well? One half of society has been recruited to inform on the other half. One shudders at the use to which this information will be put.
Ian

It's not going to work. The people who are the problem only go to hospitals when the child is half dead anyway - and what if it's the mother herself abusing the child? I think you'll just see lots more nurses leaving their jobs, frankly.
Hamish Edgar

Every person in this country has been asked to do something sexual that they didn't want to do. The question is were they forced to do it after saying no. I think this is a stupid question as they all are and people aren't going to be honest to these as fear for there safety.
Simon